Disposal, laboratory waste

Before disposal, laboratory waste should always be decontaminated by autoclaving and all waste should be identified by unambiguous labeling whether or not the decontamination had been carried out. Remains of biological material (e.g., blood or tissue samples) should be regarded as hazardous material. Chemicals should be treated as hazardous if they are ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic. 

Manufacturing Chemists Association (1970) Laboratory Waste Disposal Manual, Washington, DC. 

Anon, Laboratory Waste Disposal Manual, 2nd edn, Manufacturing Chemists Association, Washington, DC, 1969 (revised edition 1974)... 

It is important to keep the amount of potentially hazardous waste in the laboratory to a minimum at all times. Periodically, contents of the laboratory waste containers will be transferred to appropriate containers for final disposal. These must be stored in a safe location, often outdoors, while awaiting pick-up by a disposal service. There will be local restrictions for such storage. A locked storage area may be needed, for example, to prevent unauthorized access to hazardous materials. The fire department niiay set strict limits as to how much flammable material may be present. All containers must be marked with contents, and the storage area will no doubt require warning signs. 

Laboratory Waste Disposal Manual, 142, Washington, MCA, 1969-1972 edns (withdrawn in 1980)... 

Interaction is exothermic, and if air is present, incandescence may occur with freshly prepared granular material. Admixture with oxygen causes a violent explosion [1], Soda-lime, used to absorb hydrogen sulfide, will subsequently react with atmospheric oxygen and especially carbon dioxide (from the solid coolant) with a sufficient exotherm in contact with moist paper wipes (in a laboratory waste bin) to cause ignition [2], Spent material should be saturated with water before separate disposal. Mixture analogous to soda-lime, such as barium hydroxide with potassium or sodium hydroxides, also behave similarly [1],... 

Other types of solid laboratory waste including used silica gel and charcoal should also be packed, labeled, and sent for disposal in a secure landfill. 

Handbook of Laboratory Waste Disposal, Pitt, E. M. J., Chichester (UK), Ellis Horwood, 1985. 

Soda-lime, after absorbing hydrogen sulfide, exhibits a considerable exotherm (100°C) when exposed simultaneously to moisture and air, particularly with carbon dioxide enrichment, and has caused fires in laboratory waste bins containing moist paper wipes. Saturation with water and separate disposal in sealed containers is recommended. 

All toxic materials were disposed of in accordance with "Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories" National Academic Press Washington, DC, 1983. Particular care must be taken in the disposal of waste materials containing lead and chromium compounds. 

There are numerous instances in this handbook of laboratory waste bottles, or industrial waste drums, slowly pressurising and then bursting. In the latter case, sometimes the consequences are fatal. It is unwise to seal a freshly filled waste container tightly, ideally they should be left slightly less than air-tight and only sealed immediately before transport for final disposal. 

The geochemical behavior of disposed radioactive wastes is controlled by a number of different physical and chemical phenomena. Some changes are caused by thermal processes which influence chemistry of both the stored material and its host. These thermal effects can also influence the physical characteristics of the stored material. Laboratory and field studies are underway in many scientific and engineering facilities to understand these effects. 

Armour, M.A. (Margaret-Ann) Hazardous laboratory chemicals disposal guide/Margaret-Arm Armour.—3rded. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 1-56670-567-3 1. Chemical laboratories—Waste disposal. 2. Hazardous substances. I. Title. 

Laboratory glassware containing reaction mixtures of unknown nature (and sometimes of unknown origin) can pose difficult disposal problems. Such materials occur frequently in research laboratories, particularly in those that have a high rate of personnel turnover. Simple laboratory tests may provide enough information for safe disposal. The waste management system should provide a procedure designed to prevent the occurrence of such orphan wastes. 

HPLC Waste Collection Absorption (skin) Low Nitrile double gloves, Tyvek sleeves (see previous statement), disposable laboratory coat Technique (use precautions when removing tubing to... 

In the case of nonsolvent contaminated solid laboratory waste, depending upon the potent compound being handled, it may be necessary to handle and dispose of the waste using a higher level of treatment than one would of a standard pharmaceutical waste solid, which would normally be considered a nonhazardous waste. 

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